What to do with a broken Iskra?

[gregington]

I took a risk and bought an Iskra from the auction site which was "fully working and tested with film".

When I got it, it looked like the lens was assembled incorrectly (shutter speed markings offset from where they should be). I put a roll through and got inconsistent results - some frames completely exposed, some overexposed.

I took it to a local camera repairer who refused to work on it as the shutter has had previous "repairs" performed which have damaged the internals. He at least reassembled the lens so that the shutter speeds are in the correct position. I put another roll through and all frames were unexposed at all fast shutter speeds.

Now the interesting thing is that the film advance mechanism is working perfectly, so the camera may still be of some use. Perhaps a lens/shutter transplant from an Iskra with a damaged film advance could make a working camera.

I'd like to see my Iskra get some use, since it does have a working film advance. Perhaps someone with a red window Iskra might be interested in this body to make a fully functioning camera. I don't really have the skill or the inclination to try it myself.

 

[hanskerensky]

Greg, thanks again for your kind offer !
Hope to make good use of your Iskra so it can have a new life again !

Regards,

Hans

 

[Borghesia]

Poor beaten Iskra, any Iskra is worth to be revived. And in the care of dr. Hans Kerensky it's in the best hands.
I hope you to find a nice working one Greg. My Iskra suffers from a mysterious lightleak, and I can't use it for perfect pictures. But it being such a special camera, I will never part from it. Maybe later I can resolve that problem.
Try Fedka for a good working one.

 

[P C Headland]

Where is your mysterious light leak, Borghesia - do you have a scan you could show us?

 

[gregington]

As Hans said, the Iskra will be on its way to him next week. I'll be interested to hear what happens to it.

My wife bought me Fed 2 as a present from Fedka which I have been extremely happy with, so I'll probably use him again if I decide to buy another Iskra.

 

[Borghesia]

Where is your mysterious light leak, Borghesia - do you have a scan you could show us?

Hello PC Headland,

Since I handled your Iskra a couple of years ago, I just had to had one.
Which I did a few months later.
I have a good working one except the light leak problem, which comes up at random on some frames.

Here's the most annoying one :

Since it is left-under, the leak must be on the right-top of the camera.
I black taped everything around there in the inside of the camera, but no avail. I am afraid it is a tiny leak inside the mechanics of the top housing of the camera.
Or do you have another analysis ?

Hope you are well in Wellington !

André

 

[hanskerensky]

Hello Greg,

When i came home from work this evening a pleasant surprise was waiting for me, your Iskra !

I did i quick checkup of the shutter and there is indeed a problem there. After using the B-function the shutter blades don't close entirely so you get an enormous lightleak.
The rest of the Iskra seems in good cosmetic condition and i'm confidend that
i can make good use of it by swapping parts with another Iskra that i have but which
is in rather poor condition.

Thanks again Greg for your kind offer ! I owe you one so next time you need
something with which i can help, please send me a note.


Regards,

Hans

 

[NickTrop]

The mystery light leak of the Iskra is solved here, on a RFF thread several years ago. I had in Iskra (since sold) which had this, and it seems many develop it. This fixed it completely - 100%, for the rest of the time I owned it. It's on the /front/ of the camera, and can be solved with a couple pieces of black electrical tape. Read this thread:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58597

The red line shows where the light comes in from:

Apply a strip of electrical tape around this edge. Read the thread for full instructions. It's a, literally, two minute fix.

 

[Borghesia]

Thanks Nick, I followed the instructions of that thread years ago. Actually I taped the whole Iskra inside and out. But the leaks didn't disappear.
I think the problem with my Iskra comes from the top of the camera.

 

[P C Headland]

Hello PC Headland,

Since I handled your Iskra a couple of years ago, I just had to had one.
Which I did a few months later.
I have a good working one except the light leak problem, which comes up at random on some frames.

.....

Since it is left-under, the leak must be on the right-top of the camera.
I black taped everything around there in the inside of the camera, but no avail. I am afraid it is a tiny leak inside the mechanics of the top housing of the camera.
Or do you have another analysis ?

Hope you are well in Wellington !

André

I'm well, and just back in Wellington after 10 days in the South Island.

Does the leak extend outside of the frame, right across the negative, or is it contained within the frame? If the leak does not extend beyond the frame, it may be a shutter leaf problem (not closing properly). If you are still convinced that it is coming from the top plate somewhere, I seem to recall reading something sometime ago where light can leak through part of the winding mechanism. It may be worth making some sort of light baffle to sit between the take-up spool and winder to test.

Good luck.

 

[jnoir]

Hans himself has good pictures about that, I did not suggested that because I guess you already tried, but there is a foam inside, under the cover, that may have disintegrated, and light coming from the frame counter window may be filtering through.

 

[Brian Legge]

Darn, I was going to suggest Nicks link. I picked up an Iskra here which had the leak his post outlined. Taping up up the inside of the camera fixed it for me.

 

[hanskerensky]

To follow up on the above post of jnoir, an image of the hidden lightshield deep inside the Iskra :

When it is worn, replace it with another made of black felt.

You can see its original position here :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29504544@N08/4092655523/in/set-72157622636222199/

 

[Borghesia]

Hans, I've missed this educational picture in your stream...maybe this is the solution for my Iskra. I had put a felt ring in the inside of the camera not in the filmcounter itself.
I will give it a try....thanks again !

Andre

 

[hanskerensky]

You're welcome André. Hope it solves your Iskras problem !